Marshia Cordray, an employee of the FDA in Ann Arbor chants "Let me do my job, open the government now" during the AFGE protest outside of the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in Detroit, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

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"They not only hurt us but they hurt the people we represent," Christopher Belcher said as motorists honked horns in support as the crowd chanted, "Open up the government."

Diane Russell, a community involvement coordinator at the Environmental Protection Agency Office in Flint, said the rally Thursday gave her a reason to get out of bed.

Russell said for her, the shutdown is a huge issue and she's been wracked with anxiety.

"This is not a vacation," she said, "I can't do the public service that is my life's purpose."

The rally was organized by the American Federation of Government Employees to highlight the effect of the shutdown. The government stoppage threatens to stretch into a fourth week as President Trump and Democrats continue a stalemate over funding for Trump's proposed southern border wall.